Portable grandstand or bleacher



5Pf 3, 1942. R. A. UI-:CK'ER'E-rag PORTABLE GRANDSTAND 0R BLEACHER Filed Aug, s. .1940 Sheets-sheet, 2

.K l* klip Sept. 8, 1942. R, A. uEckER Erm. V2,295,311

PORTABLE GRANDSTAND 0R BLEACHER sept. '9, 1942.

PORTABL GRANDSTAND OR BLEACHER Filed Aug. s, 1940 5 sheets-sheet 4 I sept 8, 1942 Rf. A. UECKER ET AL PORTABLE GRANDSTND OR BLECHER Filed Aug. s. 1940 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Sept. 8, 1942 -rA'rEs I 2,295,311 PORTABLE GRANDSTAND OR, BLEACHE-R of Wisconsin Application August 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,850

(CII. 18S-2) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to grandstands or bleachers and more particularly to a portable grandstand or bleacher adapted to be increased in height by the addition of sections thereto.

One `object of the invention is to provide a portable grandstand or bleacher which will be light in weight.

Another object is to provide a portable grandstand which may be converted into a bleacher at will. A

Another object is to provide a bracket adapted to convert a portable grandstand into a portable bleacher.

A further object is to provide a portable grandstand or bleacher which will be economical to manufacture and to erect.

Other objects will become apparent from the following description.

In.the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a portable grandstand with removable bleacher seats in place thereon;

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of a portable grandstand similar to Fig. l but without the bleacher seats;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in side elevation of a portable grandstand with the removable bleacher seats in place;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the bleacher` bracket per se;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the removable bleacher bracket;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a modification ofthe invention showing, in side elevation, a portable bleacher;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of the bleacher shown in Fig. 7, with parts being shown in cross-section to more clearly illustrate the construction;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational viewsimilar to' Fig. l, but to a somewhat smaller scale, showing a larger grandstand; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-section on the line III-I0 of Fig. 9.

Referring to Figs. l, 2 and 3 it will be seen that the grandstand may be built to any height by the use of three types of frames, lettered A, B and C, when used in connection with standard scaffold end frames E.

The frame A has a forward post I0, a center post II-I2 and a rear post I 3 of approximately twice the length of the post I0. The forward post I0 and the rear post I3 are connected -to thetop of the brace I6 and extends parallel to the rear post I3. A second horizontal supporting brace 20 connects the tops of the braces I2 and I3 and forms a second support for grandstand planking 2l at the elevation of the tops n of the posts I2 and I3. l

Suitable diagonal or shear braces 23 join the supporting braces I6 and 20 while similar diagonal or shear braces 2t join the supporting brace I6 with the horizontal brace I5 to form the frame A into a rigid structure. -Bolts 25 (Fig. 3) are formed integrally on the post lI-IZ andl post I3 and are used to attach the ends 4of cross braces connecting parallel frames as shown in Fig. 10 and in the co-pending application of John F. Roney and Richard W. Page, Serial No. 348,084, filed July 29, 1940, for Portable grandstand.

The frames B and C are identical to the frame l A except that the rear post 28 of frame B projects below the bottom of the horizontal brace I 5, a distance. equal to the height of the post I3, and the rear post 30 of the frame C lprojects below the bottom of its horizontal brace I5, a distance equal to` the length of the post 28 of the frame B. In other respects the frames B and C may be identical to the frame A and similar parts are therefore designated by similar numbers.

` frame comprises a pair of spaced tubularposts .adjacent the bottoms thereof by a horizontal The scalfold end frame E is fully described in the U. S. Patent to Reinhold A. Uecker, No. 2,043,498, dated June 9, 1936. Briefly the end 35-35 connected by a pair of spaced supporting braces 36-36 and reinforced by shear or diagonal braces 3'I-3I. All of the above members are rigidly connected, as by welding, to form a rigid unit. Bolts 38-38 are fixed on each post adjacent the tops and bottoms thereof on which cross braces (not shown) are connected.

To assemble the grandstand a pin 40 (Fig. 3) having a collar 4I formed thereon isl inserted into the tops of each of the rear posts I3, 28 and 30 so that the bottom of the collar 4I rests on the top of the posts I3, 28 and 30. The front post of the frame B may then be superimposed over the pin 40 in the rear lpost I3 of frame A and the front post of the frame C superimposed over the pin 40 in the rear post 28 of the frame B.

Thus assembled the bottoms of the posts I3, 28 and 30 are on a single level. The scaiold end provided a light, simple and economical portable i grandstand or bleacher which may be built to frame E being the same height as the post 30 of the frame C may then be used in connection with frame C to support a second frame A, and

v a second frame B. Thus by adding scaffolding tubular posts 45 and 46, the post 45 being adapted to t within the top ofthe front r center post of the grandstand with a ring 41 formed integrally on the post 45 to support the bracket post 45 on the posts I0 or l2.

The rear bracket post 46 has an inverted U- shaped member 48 formed on the bottom thereof which engages over the supporting braces I6 or 20 to support the rear of the bracket. A horizontal supporting bar 50 is fixed to the tops of the posts 45 and 46 and retains the bleacher planking I.

If desired the invention may be adapted directly into bleachers. Such a construction is shown in Figs. '7 and 8. Due to the fact that bleachers may be made more compact, three flooring levels 55, 56 and 51 are shown. The forward and center posts 58, 59 and 50 in the bleacher construction are extended above the floor levels 55, 56 and 51 and support the -forward end of seat supports 62, 53, S4. The rear ends of the seat supports are carried by posts 65, 56

and 61 which are welded between the seat sup-4 ports 52, 63, 64, and the horizontal braces 68, 69 and 10.

The frames A, B and C of the grandstand or the frames A', B' and C of the bleacher are arranged in pairs, spaced from and parallel to each other, as shown in Fig. 10, and connected with cross braces 15, which are connected between the bolts 25 on the frames. The spacing of the frames is equal to the width of an end frame E so thatif desired the frames may be placed at right angles to the position shown' in Fig. 9.

Thus it will be apparent that there has been -any desired height by the addition of sections thereto, and it is not desired to limit the invention to the precise form herein shown and described but only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A grandstand of the character described comprising, a plurality of frames each frame having a front post and a rear post, the length of the rear posts being successive integral multiples of the length of the shortest rear post, a scaffold end frame of a height equal to the length of the longest rear post, means to connect the front post of each frame to the rear post of theframe having the next smallest rear post with the front post superimposed on the rear post,

and means to connect and support a frame of the type having the shortest rear post between the top of the longest rear post and the top of the scaiold end frame.

2. In a grandstand having a vertical post and a supporting brace connected to said post adjacent the upper end thereof, a bleacher bracket comprising a pair of spaced vertical posts, one of said posts being receivable Awithin the grandstand post, a horizontal support connecting said i posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a ring formed integrally on and intermediate the ends of that bracket post engageable within the grandstand post to support one end of the bracket, and means on the other bracket post engageable with the supporting brace to support that end of the bracket.

3. In a grandstand having a vertical post and a supporting brace connected to said post adja` cent the upper end thereof, a bleacher bracket comprising a pair of spaced vertical posts, one of said posts being receivable within the grandstand post,a horizontal support connecting said posts adjacent the upper ends thereof, a ring formed integrally on and intermediate the ends of that bracket post engageable within the grandstand post to support one end of the bracket, and an inverted U-shaped member having the closed upper end thereof iixed to the lower end of the other bracket post, and having the open lower end thereof engageable over thesupporting brace to support that end of the bracket.

REINHOLD A. UECKER. DAVID E.' BEA'I'IY. LAWRENCE C. OER'ILE. 

